Indicator for cooking ranges



Jan. 17,1950 c. M. MAYER 2,494,892

, INDICATOR FOR' cooxING mms Fixed April 1:5, 1948 Smets-sheet 1 1N; 'EN TOR. Char/e5 /`Z Mayer 4 #JWM Jan. 17, 1950 c. M. MAYER 2,494,892

INDICATOR FOR COOKING RANGES I Filed April 13. 194e O 2 snee-tssheet 2 /f-f, AINVENTOR. Jy War/es M. Mayer Patented Jan. 17, 1950 INDICATUB FOR COOKING RANGES Charles M. Mayer, lilansiieid, ohio, assigner to The Tappan Stove Company, Mansileld, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 13, 1918, Serial No. 20,678 .i

This invention relates to an indicating mechanism for use on cooking ranges by which one can tell at a glance whether or not a burner or` heating element is operating. The mechanism is applicable to either gas or electric ranges. This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 555,581, filed September 23, 1944, now abandoned.

The invention contemplates the use of a ring or disc which surrounds the valve stem by which the operation of a top burner of a range is controlled, and which is illuminated when the burner 6 Claims. (Gl. 177-411) is turned on. The ring or disc may be made of glass or any other suitable translucent material and is disposed against the front of the range behind a valve operating handle. A small electric bulb is fastened in position to throw light on the back of the ring or disc when the bulb is energized. The energization of the bulb is controlled by a suitable switch which in turn is operated by zo the rotation of the valve stem. i

The principal object of the invention is to provide a single effective and ornamental mechanism for indicating thefcondition of the top burners of a cooking range.

Other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein- The burners 2 are located in top burner compartments 3 and have suitable utensil supporting gratas 4 disposed over them. The top l has a splasher plate 6 extending upwardly from the rear edge thereof. Beneath each of the burner compartments 3 is a storage compartment which is closed by a door 1. Between the burner and storage compartments is an oven and a broiler compartment which are closed by doors B and t respectively. The numerals I and II indicate handles by which the doors l and 9 are opened and closed. A pair of escutcheon plates I2 are removably secured to the front walls Il of the topburner compartments 3 above the doors l.

Gas is supplied to the burners 2 from a common manifold I4 through valves I5 which con-.trol the operation of the burners, there being `provided a separate valve for each burner. The valves I5 are suitably secured to the manifold Il which is held in place by suitable means, not shown. Each valve i5 has an operating stem I6 which extends forwardly from its valve through an opening I'I in the wall I3 and an enlarged opening it in the escutcheon plate I2. The outer end of each valve stem I6 has a flattened portion I9 and is slotted Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a gas cooking range 30 Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing oneof the electric bulbs and the control switch therefor, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2

Fig. 6 is aview similartoFig. 3showing amodied form of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation oi' the indicator and 45 4valve operating handle shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of a rotatable disc used in the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a furo ther modiiication of myinventlon. n

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral I indicates generally a gas cooking range of the divided top type wherein a pair of gas burners 2 are mounted one behind the other adjacent each side oi the range.

as indicated at 20. Anoperating handle generally indicated by the numeral 2 I, through which the valve stem I6 is rotated to open and close the valve I5, is frictionally secured to the outer end of each valve stem I5, so that it can be readily removed and replaced as desired. The flattened portions I9 of the valve stems IB which cooperate with complementary flattened portions in sockets 22 of the handles 2| assure the rotation of the -valve stems when the handles 2l are turned. The

slots 2l enable the valve stems I6 to frictionally engage the walls of the sockets 22 with sufdcient force to retain the handles 2l in place upon the valve stems I6 during normal operation. The handles 2l are molded from opaque 'plastic material and each comprises a dome-shaped body portion 23, having a cylindrical base 24, and an outwardly extending centrally disposed nat sided narrow section 25 by which the handle 2| is adapted to be grasped and turned.

A circular disc 26 having an outwardly extending ring-shaped annular flange 21 and a central aperture 28 is loosely mounted upon each valve stem II between thehandle 2| and the escutcheon plate I2, the valve stem IB extending through the aperture 28. The discs 26 are made of colored glass or any other suitable translucent material, preferably colored, and the outside diameters thereof are just slightly greater than the `diameter of the openings I8 through the escutcheon v tweenthediscs 2t andhandles 2|.

amaca 3 plateau. rnebaseuofeanmnmesnsdm posed within the ring-shaped annular nange 21 so that substantially all ot the disc 2t is covered by the que handle 2I except the ring-shaped ilange 21. discs 26 are resillentlyheldagainst the escutcheon lates I2 by light helical sm 33Lwhich are dised around the stems II be- A small electric bulb 29 and a switch-3l are operatively associated with each disc 2l. The bulbs 2l and switches 3l are mounted in casings 3l which are secured to the wall I3 behind the escutcheon plates l2. The valve stems Il extend through the casings 3l and are adapted to open and close the switches 3| when they are turned. When the valves I are closed the flattened portions IB of the valve stems II lie parallel to and closely adjacent the upper ends of buttons 32, and when the valve stems are rotated the rounded parts of the stems cam the buttons downwardly closing the switches 30 and energizing the bulbs 2S. As is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bulbs 29 are so positioned with respect to the opening I8 that they will, when energized, project light through the openings I8 against and through the translucent discs 2i. Due to the fact that all of the discs 26 except the ring-shaped flanges 21 thereof are covered by the opaque handles 2i, light will shine only through the flanges 21 which will be brightly illuminated whenever the valves I5 are turned on. By having the discs 26 and the flanges 21 thereof made from colored glass or plastic, especially red, they can be readily 'seen and will present a pleasing appearance whenever the valves are turned on,l

so that one can tell at a glance which of the burners 2 are operating.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have shown a slightly modi- .ded form of my invention. In this form of the invention I secure a disc 40 in the outer end oi a cylindrical sleeve 4I which surrounds the opening i8 in an escutcheon plate i2, andV is held from turning by a pair of tongues 42 which engage in slots 43 in the escutcheon plate. A narrow operating handle M which rictionally held upon the outer end of the valve stem i6 retains the sleeve 4i and disc 4I) in place. The lower half d5 of the disc 40 is opaque and the upper half thereof is translucent. The upper half of the disc is divided into three sections 86, el and t8 which are preferably of diierent contrasting colors. Rigidly secured to the -valve stem i6 behind the disc 50 is an opaque disc 49 having a window 5U therethrough. A case 3l having a bulb 29 and switch 30 therein is mounted between the .wall i3 and the escutcheon plate i2 in position for the bulb when energized to project light through the opening I8 in the escutcheon plate i2 and the window 50 in the disc B9. As shown in Fig. 6 the case 3i is secured to ears 5I on the valve l5 instead oi to the'wall I3 as shown in Figs. 2 to 4. As the valve stem is turned clockwise to open the valve i5, the bulb 29 is energized and the window 50 is brought successively behind the translucent sections 46, dl, and 4B of the disc de. Light will shine through the window 50 and illuminate the section behind which it happens to be located and thus indicate whether the burner is operating at low, medium or high ame.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a further modification oi my invention. This form of the invention is very similar to the iorm shown in Figs. 6 to i3, the various parts being identical but arranged somewhat diuerently with respect to each other.

. 4 Inthlsiormoftheinventionthedisoissscured to the sleeve' II adjacent the operang handle and the ring or disc Il is Ibid!! I6- cured to the operating stem Il rearwardly ot the disc I9. The window Il is preferably disposed aboveA the stem II asshown. As the valve stem Itis turned clockwise to open-therein Il. the bulb 28 is energized and the translucent portion of the disc 4I is brought up behind .the Winslowl il. Light will then shine through the tramlucent portion of the disc Il and thromh the window 50, indicating that the burner is operating.

When the invention is used with an `electric range the stems Il operate suitableswltcbes which control the operation of the heang elsments.

ciains Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an indicating mechanism for visually indicating the condition of a range heating element, the combination of an enlarged aperture through a front wall of the range, an operating stem through which the operation of the heating element is controlled projecting out through said aperture, an operating handle removably secured to the outer end of said operatingstem, a translucent indicator disc loosely mounted upon said operating stem between said operating handle and the front wall of the range in position to cover said aperture, an electric bulb disposed behind said front wall in position to project light when energized through said aperture and said indicator disc, and means operative when said heating element is in operative condition to energzesaid electric bulb, said operating handle having a circular opaque base ot slightly less diameter than the diameter of said indicator disc, said circular base being disposed closely adjacent said indicator disc whereby only a narrow ring of light is visible when said bulb is energized.

2. In an indicating mechanism for visually indicating the condition of a range heating element, the combination of an enlarged aperture through a front wall of the range, an operating stem through which the operation of the heating element is controlled projecting out through said aperture, an operating handle removably secured to the outer end of said operating stem, a translucent indicator disc loosely mounted upon said operating stem between said operating handle and the front Wall of the range in position to cover said aperture, an electric bulb behind said front wall in position to project light when energized through said aperture and said indicator disc, and means operative when said whereby only a narrow ring o! light is visible when said bulb is energized.

3. In an indicating mechanism for visually indicating the conditioner a range heating element, the combination of an enlarged aperture through a iront wall of the range, an operating stem through which the operation oi the heating element is controlled projecting out through said aperture, an operating handle removably secured to the outer end of said operating stem. a translucent indicator disc loosely mounted upon said operating stem between said operating handle and the front wall or the range in position to cover said aperture. an electric bulb disposed behind said front wall in position to project light when energized through said aperture and said indicator disc, and means operative when said heating element is in operative condition to energize said electric bulb, said operating handle having an enlarged base disposed closely adjacent said indicator disc in position to cover the major portion of said disc whereby only a frame of light around said enlarged base is visible when said bulb is energized.

4. In an indicating mechanism for visually indicati..g the condition of a range heating element, the combination of an enlarged aperture through a front wall of the range, an operating stem through which the operation of the heating element is controlled projecting out through said aperture, an operating handle removably secured to the outer end of said operating stem. a translucent indicator disc loosely mounted upon said operating stem between said operating handle and the iront wall of the range ln position to cover said aperture, an electric bulb disposed behind said front wall in position to project light when energized through said aperture and said indicator disc. and means operative to control the energization of said electric bulb, said means comprising a switch and cooperating connections between said switch and said operating stem through which said switch is opened and closed by the rotation of said operating stem, said operating handle having a circular opaque base of slightly less diameter than the diameter of said indicator disc. said circular base being disposed closely adjacent said indicator disc whereby only a narrow ring of light is visible when said bulb isenergized.

5. In an indicating mechanism for visually indicating the condition of a range heating element, the combination of an enlarged aperture through a front wall of the range, an operating stem through which the operation of the heating element is controlled projecting out through said aperture, an operating handle removably secured totheouterendofsaidoperatingstematranslucent indicator dise loosely mounted upon said operating stem between said operating handle and the :iront wall ot the range in position to cover said aperture, an electric bulb disposed 5 behind said iront wall in position to project light when energized through said aperture and said indicator disc, and means operative when said. heating element is in operative condition to energize said electric bulb. said translucent disc having an annular ilange extending outwardly therefrom, and said operating handle having an enlarged base disposed within said ilange and substantially iilling the space within said flange whereby light is visible only through said ilange when said bulb is energized.

6. In an indicating mechanism for visibly indicating the condition. of a range burner, the combination of an escutcheon plate removably secured to said range, an enlarged aperture through said escutcheon plate. a valve by which the operation of said burner is controlled. a valve stem by which said valve is opened and closed projecting from said valve out through said aperture, an operating handle removably secured to the outer end of said valve stem. a translucent indicator disc loosely mounted upon said valve stem between said operating handle and said ,escutcheon plate in position to cover said aperture, an electric bulb mounted behind said escutheon plate in position to project light when energized out through said aperture and said translucent indicator disc. and means operative to control the energization of said bulb, said means comprising a switch and cooperating connections between said switch and said valve stem through which said switch is opened and closed by'the rotation of said valve stem, said translucent disc having an annular ange extending outwardly therefrom, and said operating 0 handle having an enlarged base dispssed within said dange and substantially lling lthe space within said iiange whereby light is visible only through said iiange when said bulb is energized. CHARLES M. MAYER.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the ille ot this patent:

2,240,340 Mills et al. Apr. 29, 1941 i OTHER REFERENCES 194i General Electric Ranges. P880 '1. 

